artstore, kunstambassade rotterdam

rotterdam [inter]nationaal16-09 t/m 22-10

Persbericht [english]:

From the end of June to mid-October, Artstore-Kunstambassade Rotterdam has organized three extensive exhibitions in the Groothandelsgebouw.

Artstore is an art embassy in the most literal sense of the word: it is a representative of and for Rotterdam visual artists. Artstore's activities provide a current and inspiring sense of the quality of Rotterdam’s culture. These exhibitions make local art accessible to a wide audience, and function as an urban meeting place, creative laboratory and open platform.
Artstore initiates and stimulates the acquaintance, exchange and collaborations with other (international) artists.

The third exhibition organized by Artstore in the Groothandelsgebouw is 'Rotterdam (Inter)national', and is focused mainly on the collaboration and exchange between Dutch artists from Rotterdam and foreign artists from around the world, who through their residency in Rotterdam have built up a special relationship with the city.
A large fraction of the foreign artists are or were guests at artist initiatives such as Duende, Kaus Australis, Stiching B.a.d., Kunst & Complex and Het Wilde Weten.
The exhibition also shows the work of Rotterdam artists who have a particular, inspiring relationship with a certain country or continent, or artists who have the international harbor city Rotterdam as their main subject.

International exchange within the art world and the recognition of its importance has a long history. →

artstore, kunstambassade rotterdam

rotterdam [inter]nationaal16-09 t/m 22-10

The foundation of the Prix de Rome, for example, dates back as far as 1663. It could be argued that art diminishes or wanes when not enough exchange with other cultures occurs, or when the 'other' is observed but not integrated into one's own traditions and practice.
Traveling is a means and a way towards asking questions that might not occur to you at home – not only about the country in question, but also about yourself. According to Confucius, its better to travel one mile than to read a thousand books.

Like the previous exhibitions organized by Artstore, 'Rotterdam (Inter)national' confirms the importance of (local, national and international) networks, and underlines the enrichment and expansion gained through exchange, collaboration, and spurring of debates.

The first exhibition, 'Mensbeeld', was made up of more than 50 artists' works. Through paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, film, video and installations, it offered insight into diverse ways in which contemporary artists use the human figure to express statements about our existence: aspects of humanity, literally and figuratively, formally and content-wise.

The exhibition ‘Order and Chaos’ showed the work of more than 50 artists who in various ways explore the multi-faceted appearances of the concrete world, or the limitless, immaterial world of the abstract. The expressions they make through or in their work are not necessarily scientifically arguable or demonstrable, but they are nonetheless convincing, incontestable, and effective.